Prednizone Question for doctors, nurses, anyone

[castleview]

I have a loose cough going on and yesterday it got to the point that I was getting a headache from it (I rarely get sick, so when that happened I wondered if it was more than a cold). So I went to the doctor to make sure it wasn't strep as it goes through the kids' school so much. The strep test was negative so the doctor prescribed prednizone and an inhaler and after next week start taking claritin. I've only heard of prednizone in cases of full out asthma attacks. I'm very reluctant to take it and would almost rather advil the headache and wait out the coughing.

Any thoughts on whether I need a new doctor or need to mellow out would be lovely.

 

[janabananas]

I have been put on prednizone before because my lungs were not strong enough and other reasons due to my medical condition, but I was not having an asthma attack, it was something else. I would "mellow out" as you said, and get better.

 

[Auggietina]

I've been on Prednisone many times. I do have asthma, but it's used to treat my nose polyps to shrink them.

I have the cleanest house when I am on it.

 

[Erin1700]

My little boy takes it often for croup or asthma. He feels better very quickly when he is on it. He then gets hyper and hungry!
If I were you I would take it. If every time you go to the doctor, they try to give it to you, then I would be concerned. But just now, take it and follow the dosage exactly. You will feel better!

 

[acejka]

I hate the stuff. Be aware of the side effects! I'm still battling the weight gain from it!

I try to stay away from taking it if possible.

 

[kt_mom]

I hate the stuff. Be aware of the side effects! I'm still battling the weight gain from it!

I try to stay away from taking it if possible.

I was on it years ago, but it was for an extended amount of time and it does have horrible side affects. I gained a lot of weight very quickly on it. Also make sure you follow the instructions exactly. They usually taper you off becuase your body gets addicted very quickly to it.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I had a weird side effect the one time I was on it (for a very bad respiratory infection that was making my asthma flare up badly) - vomiting. Every single time I ate something, I vomited it up. No nausea, no pain, just couldn't keep any food down. It got to be humorous to friends/family/coworkers. It happened the entire time I was on it, plus for 2 weeks after, so about a month. It is now listed as a drug allergy on my medical records.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hate it with a passion, I have bad reactions to it.

I would only take it if I had a serious disease and predisone was vital to helping me.

Are you prone to side effects from meds? I know I am. So make your best judgement for yourself.

 

[katrina1122]

Prednisone is used to reduce swelling, it doesn't have to be asthma related.

I had it after I had my tonsils removed as an adult.

I've had it for severe ankle swelling.

I've had it for bronchitus.

I've had it way too many times.

Be careful with it, it can make you feel like you are running inside yet are standing still and if you have any kind of surgery (even just minor dental) in the next year tell the dr you were on it since it can cause clotting problems. i have to say as many times as i've been on it, i've never had that problem though.

I say if you are having problems breathing and coughing alot use it.

 

[Squirrel!!!]

I have never been put on prednisone, but my father has several times for bronchitis and my daughter has. Is your course super short? Pred can be used as an immunosuppressive and used long term which can lead to tons and tons and tons of very horrid and dramatic side effects. (diabetes, weakened ligaments, thin skin, weird fat depositon, weakened immune system and on and on)

Short term (my kid was on 5 days), it works more like an anti inflammatory and decreases your airways' reactions to irritants so the cough subsides. Less mucus is produced as the reaction is decreased. Cuts the allergic reaction.

Side effects short term can be dramatic if you are someone who cannot take it as a PP mentioned. But most people just have hyper active responses or are more emotional', if they are going to have any reaction. (from what I have been told)

You also drink and pee more.

I am a veterinarian, not a human medical professional, so hopefully someone in the human field will stop in. In animals we caution and insist that you take no NSAIDS, so no advil while taking pred. The combination can cause gastric ulceration.

Not sure if it is the same in people because I don't "do" people. WOOF!!!!!

So, if my cough was severe enough that my DR. gave me Pred for 5 days, I would take it.

 

[bumbershoot]

A cough that isn't causing any other problems (I know you said you had a headache, but I mean a bigger problem that that), and you don't have asthma problems, and it doesn't appear to be anything else...I wouldn't take it. It's a serious drug. The point of it is to suppress your immune system. is that what you want right now?

Last February I took it for 5 days because I had some unknown something (cold? flu? who knows? the urgent care doctor didn't culture anything and I could barely breathe so I didn't request that she do it, I was just trying to get oxygen in and out without freaking out my kid...but my half brother, just a couple weeks later, had almost the same symptoms I did and ended up on a ventilator for a month diagnosed with H1N1...where we varied was when I successfully did a nebulizer treatment at the urgent care, but my brother freaked out halfway through and LEFT, and got worse and worse). I am predisposed to asthma, and it was getting very very bad. So bad that before I even spoke the front desk staff at urgent care could tell I couldn't breathe, and as I filled out forms at the desk they had the little oxygen saturation clip on my finger.

I don't know what I had, but my body was overreacting to it tremendously. DS and I were on our own and I *had to* keep it together, so we decided to knock down my immune system so it would stop trying to kill me, LOL.

And that's when I experienced prednisone for the first time. Holy moly the insomnia!!!!! The first 3 nights I just sat on the couch, still unable to do anything, because my lungs were still so tight. Then my lungs opened up and I got SO MUCH done. Insomnia AND motivation, all in a pill!

As interesting as that was, I would never take it for anything less than the severe whatever-it-was that I had.


With the suggestion of claritin, does your doctor think you simply have allergies? It just seems an odd combo of drugs to give you without testing for *more* than strep.

 

[ccgirl]

I have a loose cough going on and yesterday it got to the point that I was getting a headache from it (I rarely get sick, so when that happened I wondered if it was more than a cold). So I went to the doctor to make sure it wasn't strep as it goes through the kids' school so much. The strep test was negative so the doctor prescribed prednizone and an inhaler and after next week start taking claritin. I've only heard of prednizone in cases of full out asthma attacks. I'm very reluctant to take it and would almost rather advil the headache and wait out the coughing.

Any thoughts on whether I need a new doctor or need to mellow out would be lovely.

It's important to remember that medication affects people differently.

Both my son and I are on Prenisone quite frequently. He is 4 and just got off it. He gets very bad bronchitis as do I. They will prescribe a steroid if they feel there is swelling in your bronchial passages. In my son's case he is usually on it twice a day for three days. My treatment is longer and I find if I don't take it at the same time every day and don't taper off the dose, I become shaky and get headaches as well.

Good luck!

 

[Goofycampers]

Prednisone is a very potent antiinflammatory and that's why it's given for asthma-to reduce swollen airways. I'm guessing you have bronhitis and that's the reason for the frequent cough. While it's true prednisone has alot of side effects its also very effective when taken as prescribed. I wouldn't second guess your Dr. ...take the medicine.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, long term Prednisone can have some side effects.

But, sometimes, short term Prednisone is a real lifesaver!!!

If this is supposed to be short term.. Just to get things under control... I would not hesitate to give it a try.

I have taken short term Prednisone a few times and it made all the difference.

 

[castleview]

Thanks everyone. I just went and took the the first dose. It is only for six days, so I should be fine. I do have that "running inside" feeling, but hoping that subsides.

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

I have chronic bronchitis that flares up whenever I get a bad cold, so I have been on several courses of it in the last few years. The first time I took it I had that insomnia, incessant drive going. I think they gave me too high of a dosage and didn't taper it right because I felt horrible on it, and it took me a week to readjust when I came off of it. I was in college and it really made it a hard two weeks.

Since then, I've had no trouble with it, not even isomnia and it has done what it needs to do. The only issue I have now is with my blood sugar since I am diabetic. We solve that by havng me take meds to lower it when I am on it.

I have managed to even lose weight even when taking the short dose. I know long term it causes weight gain, but short term it shouldn't be too bad. I think the reason that I gained weight the first time is because it gave me the munchies and I ate way too much. Now I'm aware of it, and haven't had that side effect since. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Disney Doll]

Short term Prednisone can be a life saver. Itmust be tapered so be sure to follow the MD's instructions exactly.

That "running inside" feeling can be an effect of the Prednisone. It usually subsides, as the dosage tapers down. Meanwhile use it ot your advantage by using up that extra energy to do something...decorate. clean, go for a jog....

 

[Robinrs]

I'm CONVINCED the pharmaceutical company that makes Prednisone is in bed with the medical profession!

They prescribe it for everything and everyone, even my cat!!

I never took it, even though they prescribed it to me many times. My Dad suffered horrible side effects from it and so did my Mom to a lesser extinct. Turns out I had no imflammation, I was just EATING badly.